Combination crane and jack unit

ABSTRACT

A combination crane and jack unit having a parallelogram arm system movable to various positions in a vertical plane with means for suspending a load when operating as a crane and for supporting a load when operating as a jack, with hydraulically operated means for moving the parallelogram arms including a hand pump having a variety of positions to be adjacent an operator dependent upon the various uses of the unit and with shield means covering the parallelogram arm structure to prevent injury to an operator.

[ Nov. 19, 1974 3,717,271 2/1973 Bargman........,............. 214/DIG.l0

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 6,411,254 4/1965Netherlands................. 2l4/DIG. 10

Primary Examiner-Robert G. Sheridan Assistant Examiner-R. B. JohnsonAttorney, Agent, or Firm-Hofgren, Wegner, Allen, Stellman & McCord [57]ABSTRACT A combination crane and jack unit having a parallelogram armsystem movable to various positions in a vertical plane with means forsuspending a load when operating as a crane and for supporting a loadwhen operating as a jack, with hydraulically operated means for movingthe parallelogram arms including a hand pump having a variety ofpositions to be adjacent an Unlted States Patent Anderson et al.

[54] COMBINATION CRANE AND JACK UNIT [75] Inventors: Richard T.Anderson; Michael J.

Sethney, both of Owatonna, Minn.

[73] Assignee: Owatonna Tool Company,

Owatonna, Minn.

[22] Filed: Nov. 5, 1973 21 Appl. No.: 412,588

[52] US. Cl. 212/8 R, 2l4/DIG. 10 [51] Int. B66c 23/00 [58] Field ofSearch................... 212/8 R, 8 A; 9/39; 240/63; 2l4/DIG. 10, 620,140 R, 763, 769

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS t mm ua e m f f 0 m aw r s830 e u r. s a m u U C .W C F nh o a m Vg .l em W O Luf a tey r m m n 5C. um.l S ta m n n .I. eme h d V C mdw PM P 7 e dm e mm r t u aw r C Ma03 mRXRm .8 8. GU WG l lI D222D M m M 2 2 m m u u rnnno mhn n aebu.mdmmm PDAAF 68 80 ll 33667 9999M HHHH/ 0 64532 COMBINATION CRANE ANDJACK UNIT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention pertains to acombination crane and jack unit particularly usable in the automotivefield as a jack to position an automotive part beneath a raised vehicleor a work stand and also usable as a crane to facilitate handling ofparts from above the vehicle.

The assignee hereof has, for many years, marketed a floor crane, asshown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,367,512. This floor crane does not havestructure for operating as a jack.

A number of patents show lifting units with a parallelogram bararrangement, such as Howell'U.S. Pat. No. 1,751,480, Schreck U.S. Pat.No. 2,772,797, and Furuno US. Pat. No. 3,543,956. These patents do notshow a combination crane and jack unit having all of the featuresdisclosed herein for providing utility of the unit as either a crane orjack, with the features enhancing safety and ease of use.

A major foreign auto company has been developing a combination crane andjack unit having a parallelogram arm structure and with a hydraulicoperating sys tem including a hand pump. This unit does not have theenclosure of the parallelogram arm structure to increase the safety ofuse thereof, nor does it have the variable positioning of the hand pumpto facilitate use of the unit.

SUMMARY A primary feature of the invention disclosed herein is toprovide a combination crane and jack unit readily usable either as acrane or a jack and with a hydraulic operating system including a handpump positionable at different locations for ideal positioning when theunit is used either as a crane or as a jack.

Another feature of the invention is to provide a combination crane andjack unit as defined in the preceding paragraph wherein the unit has asubstantial range of movement in a vertical plane whereby a loadsupported thereon may be positioned immediately above the floor forinsertion into a work stand or, alternatively, raised to a relativelyhigh level for positioning beneath a vehicle which is positioned abovethe floor on a lift and with provision for safety in use in said extremepositions.

A further feature of the invention is to provide a combination crane andjack unit as defined in the preceding paragraphs wherein the unit has aparallelogram arm structure for moving a load to a variety of positionsin a vertical plane and wherein the parallelogram arm structure isshielded to prevent damage to the fingers of a user of the unit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a transverse section, taken generally along the line 4-4 inFIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view with parts broken away of the supportstructure carried at the end of the parallelogram arm structure andshown at the left in FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The combination crane and jackunit has a base, indicated generally at 10, with a pair of generallyparallel extending legs 11 and 12. A floor-engaging roller 14 is carriedat the outer end of each of the legs and a swivel caster 15 is carriedat the opposite ends of each of the legs whereby the unit may be movedabout the floor.

The mast extends vertically upward from the base 10 and has a pair ofvertically-spaced pivot rods 21 and 22 extending transverselytherethrough, with the rod 22 having sections extending outwardly beyondthe mast to form a pair of handles for engagement by an operator inmoving the unit on the floor. The pivot rods 21 and 22 pivotally mount apair of arms of a parallelogram arm structure. These arms include alower arm 25 of generally tubular form and an upper arm formed of a pairof straps 26 and 27. The parallelogram system is completed by a tubularsupport 28 pivotally connected to the arms by a pivot pin 29 for thelower arm 25 and a pivot pin 30 for the upper arm having straps 26 and27. Thus as the arms are moved between a lower position,'shown in FIG.3, and an upper position, shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the support 28 iscaused to move in a vertical plane and the support is maintained inhorizontal position throughout the range of vertical movement. In thisrange of movement, the space between the lower arm 25 and the upper armstraps 26 and 27 varies and means are provided to block the insertion ofan operators' fingers between the parallelogram arms. This structureincludes a shield with downturned sides 36 and 37 which span the gapbetween the parallelogram arms. This shield is suitably secured to theupper arm straps 26 and 27 for movement therewith and throughout theentire range of vertical movement of the para]- lelogram arms thedepending sides 36 and 37 of the shield always span the gap between theupper and lower arms.

The unit is controlled in its vertical position by a hydraulic systemincluding a power cylinder 40 having its lower end pivotally connectedat 41 to a frame 42 secured to the mast and having its piston rod 43pivotally connected by a pivot pin 44 to a bracket 45 secured to theunderside of the lower arm 25 of the parallelogram arm structure. Thesupply and release of hydraulic fluid to the cylinder 40 is through aline connected to a hand pump unit, indicated generally at 51. This handpump unit is a commercially available structure and may be of a typedisclosed in an application of S. B. McClocklin, Ser. No. 294,818, filedOct. 26, 1972, and owned by the assignee of this application. The handpump 51 includes a cylinder 52 containing a reservoir for hydraulicfluid, with a reciprocable pumping plunger operable by a pivotallymounted handle 53 which directs hydraulic fluid from the reservoirthrough a fitting 54 to the line 50. The hand pump unit furtherincorporates a release valve which is manually operable to permit returnflow to the reservoir in the hand pump which, in this instance, wouldpermit lowering of the piston rod 43 as caused by the weight of theparallelogram arm structure.

The support 28 has a hollow interior with a plate 60 having one endpositioned therein and extending outwardly therefrom. The plate 60rotatably mounts a depending hook 61 for engaging a chin 62 or otherelongate support which is used for suspending a load, such as the load63 shown in FIG. 1, when the unit is to be used as a crane. The plate 60also has a tubular member 65 secured thereto, as by welding, to receivea pin 66 of-a fixture 67 for engaging beneath a load, such as a vehicletransmission 68.

The plate 60 is mounted for adjustment and arcuate play relative to thesupport 28 by structure including a tube 70 secured to the underside ofthe plate 60 as shown in FIG. and rotatably mounted on a pivot pin 71fixed to the side walls of the support 28. This permits rocking movementof the plate 60, as indicated by the double arrow 72 in FIG. 5. Theposition of the plate relative to the support 28 is determined by a pairof threaded adjusting members 73 and 74 which are threadably engaged ina block 75 secured to the bottom wall of the support 28. As shown inFIG. 5, both of the threaded adjusting members 73 and 74 abut againstthe underside of the plate 60 to hold the plate fixed relative to thesupport 28'. By advance of one threaded member and retraction of theother, the inclination of the plate 60 relative to the support 28 may beadjusted. If both of the threaded members are backed off, there willthen be arcuate play of plate 60 relative to the support 28 which may beused in obtaining desired final alignment of a load, such astransmission 68, relative to attaching parts on the underside of avehicle.

The use of the unit as a crane is shown particularly in FIG. 1, whereinthe load 63 may be an engine which is carried at an elevated locationfor either insertion or after removal from a vehicle. In such use of theunit, the unit is manipulated to a position at the front of the vehicleor, in any event, adjacent the location of the engine in the vehicle.The hand pump unit 51 is positioned extending at right angles to thevertical plane of the parallelogram arm structure for maximumconvenience of an operator in using the unit as a crane. Thispositioning is obtained by mounting the hand pump unit 51 on a bracket80 which is pivotally mounted to the side of the mast 20 by a pivot pin81 passing through a pair of cars 82 extending outwardly from the sideof the mast.

When the unit is used as a jack, the unit will be moved to a positionbeneath a vehicle supported on a garage lift and to enable an operatorto properly position the jack relative to the underside of the vehicleand provide for operation thereof, the hand pump unit 51 is positionedextending generally parallel to the vertical plane of movement of theparallelogram arms and as shown in FIG. 2. This enables an operator toobserve the location of the fixture 67 carried on the support 28 while,at the same time, operating the hand lever 53 to raise the jack. Morespecifically, an operator can use one hand to guide and position thetransmission 68 while the other hand of the operator can reach the pumphandle 53.

We claim:

1. A combination crane and jack unit including a base having a pluralityof floor-engaging wheels, a mast extending upwardly from said base, aparallelogram structure including a pair of parallel arms pivotallymounted at one of their ends and one above the other to the upper end ofsaid mast, a generally horizontal support pivotally connected to theopposite ends of the arms, means for raising and lowering said arms toraise and lower said support, with said arms having a lower positionextending at an angle of approximately 45 to the mast to place saidsupport just above said base, a first means on said support for holdinga supporting chain or the like for a depending article when the unit isto function as a crane, second means on said support for holding afixture to engage under an article when the unit is to function as ajack, said parallel anns lying one above the other, and shield meansdepending from the upper one of said arms and overlapping the lower oneof said arms to prevent positioning of an operators fingers between saidarms.

2. A combinationcrane and jack unit as defined in claim 1 wherein saidfirst means on said support includes a hook and said second meansincludes a plate holding a socket, and means for adjustably tipping saidplate and for providing play thereof relative to the support whereby anarticle may be aligned while carried by the unit.

3. A combination crane and jack unit as defined in claim 1 wherein saidmeans for raising and lowering said arms includes a generally verticallyextending rod and cylinder connected between the mast and one of saidarms, a hand pump operatively connected to said cylinder and having arelease valve associated therewith, and means pivotally mounting saidhand pump at an end thereof to one side of the mast whereby the pump mayextend outwardly generally parallel to the plane of the parallel armswhen an operator is using the unit as a jack and extend normal to theplane of the parallel arms when the unit is used as a crane.

4. A combination crane and jack unit as defined in claim 1 wherein saidpivot mounting for one of the parallel arms to the mast is defined by arod fixed to the mast, and having exposed ends to serve as handles forguiding movement of the unit along the floor.

5. A combination crane and jack unit comprising a base with a pluralityof floor-engaging wheels to render the unit portable, a vertical mastextending upwardly from one end of the base, a parallelogram structureincluding a pair of parallel arms each having an upper end pivotallyconnected one above the other to the upper end of the mast whereby saidarms may move between a lowermost position at an acute angle to the mastand a raised position at an obtuse angle to the base, a generallyhorizontal support pivotally connected to the lower ends of saidparallel arms and positionable immediately above saId base when saidparallel arms are in their lowermost position, means on said support forholding a fixture to engage under an article when the unit is tofunction as a jack including a plate movably mounted on said support,means on said support for engaging a chain or the like when the unit isto function as a crane, a fluid piston and cylinder operativelyconnected to one of said arms for causing movement and positioningthereof, a hydraulic hand pump connected to said piston and cylinder,and means mounting said hand pump for movement to different positionswhereby the hand pump may be positioned adjacent an operator in bothcrane and jack uses of the unit.

6. A combination crane and jack unit as defined in claim 5 wherein saidplate is pivotally mounted on said support, and a pair of adjustablebolts engageable with saId plate one at each side of the pivot andadjustable other, and shield means depending from the upper one of saidarms and overlapping the lower one of said arms to prevent positioningof an operators fingers between said arms.

1. A combination crane and jack unit including a base having a pluralityof floor-engaging wheels, a mast extending upwardly from said base, aparallelogram structure including a pair of parallel arms pivotallymounted at one of their ends and one above the other to the upper end ofsaid mast, a generally horizontal support pivotally connected to theopposite ends of the arms, means for raising and lowering said arms toraise and lower said support, with said arms having a lower positionextending at an angle of approximately 45* to the mast to place saidsupport just above said base, a first means on said support for holdinga supporting chain or the like for a depending article when the unit isto function as a crane, second means on said support for holding afixture to engage under an article when the unit is to function as ajack, said parallel arms lying one above the other, and shield meansdepending from the upper one of said arms and overlapping the lower oneof said arms to prevent positioning of an operator''s fingers betweensaid arms.
 2. A combination crane and jack unit as defined in claim 1wherein said first means on said support includes a hook and said secondmeans includes a plate holding a socket, and means for adjustablytipping said plate and for providing play therEof relative to thesupport whereby an article may be aligned while carried by the unit. 3.A combination crane and jack unit as defined in claim 1 wherein saidmeans for raising and lowering said arms includes a generally verticallyextending rod and cylinder connected between the mast and one of saidarms, a hand pump operatively connected to said cylinder and having arelease valve associated therewith, and means pivotally mounting saidhand pump at an end thereof to one side of the mast whereby the pump mayextend outwardly generally parallel to the plane of the parallel armswhen an operator is using the unit as a jack and extend normal to theplane of the parallel arms when the unit is used as a crane.
 4. Acombination crane and jack unit as defined in claim 1 wherein said pivotmounting for one of the parallel arms to the mast is defined by a rodfixed to the mast and having exposed ends to serve as handles forguiding movement of the unit along the floor.
 5. A combination crane andjack unit comprising a base with a plurality of floor-engaging wheels torender the unit portable, a vertical mast extending upwardly from oneend of the base, a parallelogram structure including a pair of parallelarms each having an upper end pivotally connected one above the other tothe upper end of the mast whereby said arms may move between a lowermostposition at an acute angle to the mast and a raised position at anobtuse angle to the base, a generally horizontal support pivotallyconnected to the lower ends of said parallel arms and positionableimmediately above saId base when said parallel arms are in theirlowermost position, means on said support for holding a fixture toengage under an article when the unit is to function as a jack includinga plate movably mounted on said support, means on said support forengaging a chain or the like when the unit is to function as a crane, afluid piston and cylinder operatively connected to one of said arms forcausing movement and positioning thereof, a hydraulic hand pumpconnected to said piston and cylinder, and means mounting said hand pumpfor movement to different positions whereby the hand pump may bepositioned adjacent an operator in both crane and jack uses of the unit.6. A combination crane and jack unit as defined in claim 5 wherein saidplate is pivotally mounted on said support, and a pair of adjustablebolts engageable with saId plate one at each side of the pivot andadjustable to either engage and hold the plate in a pivoted position orbacked off a small amount to permit a slight pivotal play of said platerelative to said support.
 7. A combination crane and jack unit asdefined in claim 5 wherein said parallel arms lying one above the other,and shield means depending from the upper one of said arms andoverlapping the lower one of said arms to prevent positioning of anoperator''s fingers between said arms.